11/02/2008

Music Monday: Politickin'

In light of the small matter which will be decided this week (gulp), it has been suggested that I make this a Music Monday devoted political/protest/social issue songs. As I can only have this opportunity every 4 years, I may as well make use of it.

My daughter has gotten into the spirit of political activism, having just spontaneously started singing the chorus of James' anti-war song "Hey Ma" to me yesterday - "Hey Ma, the boys in body bags coming home in pieces". Her version is actually, "Hey Ma, duh boys in bobby bads comin' home in Peter", but I know what she means. Concern may be expressed that my 2 year old has fixated on something so gruesome, but since she doesn't know what it all means I'm not really bothered. WAR IS HELL PEOPLE!

James: Hey Ma

John Prine: Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore -Sadly, this song was written in reference to Vietnam, yet somehow here we are again with the song still relevant.

Bob Dylan: Times They Are A-Changin' -Because no list like these is complete without a little Dylan.

Bright Eyes: When the President Talks to God

The Decemberists: Sixteen Military Wives

The Specials: Ghost Town

Black Sabbath: War Pigs

Sam Cooke: A Change is Gonna Come

And to wrap this all up, some good old Woody Guthrie - This Land is Your Land. I had always perceived this song to be yet another vestige of flag-waving, blindly pro-American propaganda, but apparently Guthrie wrote it in response to the popularity of "God Bless America". It was written in 1940, so things kind of weren't that great in the US at the time with that whole Depression thing and all, and Guthrie found "God Bless America" to be a slap in the face considering what was really going on. Hence, This Land is Your Land.

Playlist:

Fingers crossed for Tuesday. I'm desperately hoping that my kid's constant shouts of "OBAMA!" with accompanying fist pumps won't be all for naught.

I don't know why these videos will never play for me, but alas, they don't.

I've always loved This Land Is Your Land, so much more than our national anthem. It seems so much more inclusive and far less war-driven.

I may go out of my mind if Tuesday doesn't get here soon. I'm gnawing my fingernails down and obsessively checking polls and watching and listening to everything I can just for another fix. Wednesday is going to be tough.